Poultry News

Wageningen's Contribution to Decade of Animal Production Research

13 November 2013

NETHERLANDS - The European Commission recently published the catalogue "A Decade of EU-funded Animal Production Research’ that brings together the fruits of European efforts during the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP7) – the main financial tool through which the European Union supports research and development activities.

Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Central Veterinary Institute and the Department of Animal Sciences from Wageningen University together contributed to all six research themes: nutrition, fertility, selection for health, sustainability and robustness, breeds and biodiversity, and novel technologies. Thanks to the research results, Europe retains a leading position in livestock production which is an important sector within the bio-economy.

With the global population projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, a 70 per cent increase in total food request and a double demand for livestock products will occur. Increasing productivity throughout the whole chain is therefore essential if we want to meet a growing demand, whilst minimising its impact on the environment and the world’s natural resources.

The research projects described in the catalogue therefore target various features of animal production. The catalogue highlights the impact of EU-funding on guaranteeing both food security and food quality for all European citizens while reducing the negative impact of livestock on our natural environment as far as possible.

Wageningen University and Research Centre operated as coordinator and/or partner in 12 out of the 33 projects described in the catalogue, and contributed to all six research themes.

The catalogue lists for all projects a summary, the problem, the aim of the research, (expected) results and potential applications. Projects in which researchers from Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Central Veterinary Institute or the Department of Animal Sciences are involved, are within the themes: